Dan Ott’s Story

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AUTHOR: Guest Author

Read:

Jonah 3:1-4:11. What can you learn about evangelism from the way God used Jonah despite his stubbornness?

Focus:

As we continue our growth in evangelism, we need to hear stories of how God has worked through this practice. Now listen in as Dan Ott from our Brookside Campus shares how he’s seen God work. How does his story encourage or challenge you in your own witnessing?

Pray:

Pray for your 9 for 90 seconds; pray for opportunities to engage them in spiritual conversations.

Day 80 of 90

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3 Comments

Justin@leawood on 2022-04-05 at 7:13 am

Mixup in todays post…. According to my hard copy, the passage is Jonah 3:1-4:11. What can you learn about evangelism from the way God used by Jonah despite his stubbornness?
Reply
Justin@leawood on 2022-04-05 at 7:32 am

How bad is sin?
– Nineveh, with 120,000 people (4:11), was characterized by evil and violence (3:8, historical context)
– Jonah was exceedingly displeased that God showed mercy (4:1), so angry that he asked God to kill him (4:3)

How good is God?
– gave Jonah a second chance after his rebellion (3:1)
– the people believed God (3:5), even the king (3:6)
– God had mercy/compassion/pity on the repentant evildoers (3:10, 4:11)
– God was patient to reason with Jonah and teach an object lesson (4:5-11)
– Gods treatment of both Nineveh and Jonah demonstrates that he is “a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (4:2)

How should we respond to Gods grace?
– take comfort that he sees the wicked and destroys it (via overthrow or repentance)
– rejoice when God is merciful to the repentant

What can we learn about evangelism here? God used the eventual obedience of a guy whose heart was hard toward the people to save 120,000 people and much cattle, and also turn that guys heart (since he wrote the account).

Lord, thank You for working despite our hearts. May the wicked repent and know mercy. Thank You for Your mercy and patience toward me.
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cathy on 2022-04-05 at 11:31 am

YEah– it is a mix-up in posts BUT one can draw the similar conclusions. I see “Jonah” in me, not wanting to do what God asks….but we can have a change of heart (hopefully without being in many trials or bellies)
Speaking boldness as Jonah did in 4:4 to Ninevah — is what Paul et. al did in Acts 4:28. plus they prayed for God’s hand and purpose to be determined.
Similar verse with different context.
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